Chapter 5

I won't say it, Gabriel says annoyed and runs his hand through his hair. I watch his movement,my eyes trailing his hand. Gabriel saw my gaze and snorted at me. That pissed me off and I returned my gaze to the alpha.

"Rachel,I am not saying that you are wrong". Alpha says, making Gabriel growl from his seat. Alpha growled back making him wilt under his firm glare. But if there is any chance of him Changing,it is you. A mate brings out the best in you, especially an alpha. You might be the change he needs, That an opportunity if you ask me." He said and I smiled at him".

That sounds pretty good and all, Alpha am not ready to pin my future on trying to change my mate for good. And it is not fair to ask me to do that, I said as a matter of fact. And Gabriel scoffed from where he was seated.

Why does any of this matter to begin with? I already reject him as my mate, it's not like I can just take it back. I said and Luna cleared her throat.

" Well, actually if you mark him it will restore your bond, it will be your way of accepting him again". She says and I sigh, making him growl in frustration.

" You don't want me either, Gabriel. Why don't you just admit it. I asked him and he rolled his eyes at me.

" Who says I don't want you, I have always wanted a mate. Yes I didn't expect it to be you, but am willing to give it a try. He says shrugging and I growl at him.

Yes, you are not the one who's been tormented all these years, so it's easy for you to say so. I said irritatedly and my mom cut in.

We don't seem to be heading anywhere,maybe we should take a break for today. Gabriel groans and I growl at him.

Rachel, can I talk to you in private? He asked.

Fine.

I followed him out of the office and up the stairs into a room. As soon as I stepped into the room, I got engulfed in his scent. It is not as strong or enticing since I broke the bond, but it still smells so good . I discreetly take in a sniff as he closes the door behind us. He comes up behind me and pulls my hair over my shoulder, unapologetically talking in a long sniff of my scent.

God damn, you smell so good, baby. He murmurs as I pull away from him.

" That's just the mate bond talking". I said and he grew in response.

No, you have always smelled so good. He says taking another step towards me as he sniffs. I could see his tense body visibly relax as he sat on the bed.

I think you know what I am going to say,Leaning back on his headboard.

Are you going to accept my rejection?I asked and he smirked before laughing softly.

No, I am going to say at least we should give it a try. He says with confidence.

Why do you just accept that you don't want me, and we can both move on? I asked stubbornly and he growled a little.

" I do want you, you are smart and hot, why won't I want you? He asked, smiling at me.

You didn't like me yesterday, the only thing that changed is the mate bond. That is not enough to build a relationship on. I pointed out.

" I have always liked you". He says.

You had a shitty way of showing it right. I said as I took my seat across from him, he sighs heavily as he runs his hand through his hair again. I got a strange urge to do the same too, maybe the mate bond isn't totally severed it just muted in a way.

" If I tell you it the truth , you will probably think am stupid". He says.

" Probably, hit me with it anyway you have nothing to lose. I said and his eyes bore into mine as he nodded slightly.

" I was jealous, plain and simple. My parents love you and would always talk about how smart you are. How good it will be for the pack, I feel like they would have preferred to have you as their child than me. He says avoiding eye contact with me, I sighed heavily as I rubbed my temple.

Gabriel, it not stupid how you handled it was wrong, you could have talked to your parents about it instead of treating me like trash. I said and he nodded in agreement.

I know,I figured that out before graduation but I also thought it wouldn't matter that much if I tried to amend it anyway. I thought you would never forgive me but I never thought you would end up being my mate. He said then I stood up making my way to the door.

"Where are you going? He asked standing on his feet, I looked at him in confusion pointing to the door.

Am going home, I have a lot to think about as I head for the door. He grabs my wrist inorder to stop me from leaving and I look at him confused.

Can't you think here? He asked desperately and I got more confused by his behavior.

What's going on Gabriel? I asked him shivers at the sound of his name from my mouth, that made him realize that he still felt the full force of the mate bond.

I just want to be near you. He admits shyly, I sighed and sat back on the chair.

Am not staying here,I am going to have nothing to do with you. Think of it as a punishment for the way you treated me for years, I said.

That fine I totally deserve that, but you won't make me surfer for five years right? He asked but I looked away.

That is not a terrible idea, I said and he slid off the bed kneeling down in front of me.

Please Rachel don't torture me, I know you can't feel it but the thought of not being close to me is killing me . My wolf has been trying to take over so he can mark you, we want you. You are everything we need in a Luna, we are sorry to give us another chance . He pleaded, lifting his face to look at me. They were filled with tears. Never in my life have I imagined Gabriel on his knees begging for my forgiveness.

I almost didn't like it.

I almost didn't like it.

" Just relax Gabriel" I said as I ran my hand through his hair, he leaned in closer as my touch was soothing to him but I miss the spark I felt when I found out he was my mate.

Though it wasn't enough to forgive him for the way I was treated by him for the past few years, and that is for sure.

Gabriel lets just take things slowly,once at a time. I said to him,and he looked very relaxed under my touch.

"What do you think the pack will think of us?"? I asked him and he looked up at me with a furrowed brow.

"What do you mean"? He asked me to look him in the eyes.

Have you forgotten that you single handedly destroyed my reputation? What? Do you think the whole pack will accept a slut for their luna? I asked, looking him straight in the eyes and he growled back at me.

"Don't call yourself that" he said and I narrowed my eyes on him.

"I didn't. You did" I said pointedly and his face fell before he laid his head back on my lap. He moves his hands around my waist , I let him do it hoping that some intimate contact would calm him down from throwing a tantrum when I leave.

" Am so sorry, I will never forgive myself for what I did to you" he murmurs and I rub the back of his neck to sooth him gently. His emotionally are throwing the fuck out of me.

" This doesn't actually matter for now " we have to think of a way on how this will look. I sighed and he looked up at me again.

" I will kill anyone who says anything bad about you" he says firmly, I can't help but giggle. He looks up at me in awe and watches me.

Do that again, he says.

Do what?

" Laugh. It was beautiful" he says, shaking me a little.

Well I can't just laugh on command. It doesn't walk like that. He lifted his hand up and tickled my side, making me laugh until I could barely breathe.

Ok, ok stop, I yelled at him and he pulled his hand back quickly. I looked at him and he had a wide, beautiful smile on his face.

" I could listen to that forever". He murmurs, reaching up to run his thumbs down my cheeks.

Rachel? Where are you? My mum links me and pulls me out of my daze. I stood up suddenly, making Gabriel fall over.

"Sorry, that was my mom, I have to go. I said as I was heading towards the door. If before I could get close to the door a pair of large have wrapped around my waist pulling me into his strong embrace.

"No, tell her you are staying with me. Gabriel growls at me. He sounds more wolf than man. I turned around and met his dark eyes, which showed that his wolf he's in charge. I took a deep breath and held his face in my hands.

I will come back tomorrow okay? I need to talk to them, and explain things. I tried to reason a little with him, he held my hands in his kissing palm like he did earlier.

"You promise to come back tomorrow? I nod, my stomach sinking at the thought of what I am getting myself into.

Yes tomorrow, his eyes were back to normal as that of Gabriel as he let go of my hands.

See you tomorrow little mate. He said leaning in to take a sniff of my scent as he placed a gentle kiss on my neck, I smiled at him gently before leaving the room. Taking a deep breath of fresh air before I find my way out of here.

Rachel

On getting home." What took you so long? My mom asked with a worried look on her face as soon as I walked in through the door. My dad was with her standing at her back, staring at me worriedly and I sighed before entering the kitchen.

My parents know that I easily get hungry once I am stressed out.

Gabriel tried to persuade me to stay, he has been acting so strange. I said while I opened the fridge to pull out some snacks for myself. Suddenly my Mom grabs the food from me, and starts preparing something else while my dad pulls to sit beside him inside our kitchen.

" You mean he wasn't treating you like a piece of trash like he does? My dad asked irritatedly and somewhat angry.

Sweetheart,why didn't you tell us it was that bad from the start, my mom asked with a sad and worried expression. There is a pang in my heart at the thought of hurting her.

He is our Alpha son, what would you have done to him? I asked while trying to avoid their gaze. My dad sighs and crosses his arm over my shoulder, pulling me into his embrace while he plants a kiss on my forehead.

" You know we could have spoken to the alpha about it, you heard what he said today. He wouldn't have tolerated his son's behavior towards you mate or know mate. My dad pointed out but I just Shaked my head.

" If he was going to change, I wanted him to do that on his own, not reporting him to his father. That would have made matters worse , he needs to grow and learn how to be a good Alpha in the future. I know doing this all these years probably hurt you guys feelings towards me today, saying what I did about trying to leave the pack. But I want to know that it has nothing to do with the both of you. Only Gabriel, I said, met both of them gaze. They both nod in agreement while my mum places a plate of food in front of me.

"We know, sweetheart. We just feel bad for you, you know we have been excited about you finding your mate. And then you got that little shit" My dad said angrily, snatching a carrot off my plate. I growled at him and he chuckled back in response, he munched on it happily. My mum watches us with a warm and affectionate look.

" You know, a few days ago when he was spewing bullshit at me like he normally does, I told him his mate would be disappointed at having him as her mate, and that I hope she would never accept him. I said with a little giggle, that got both my parents laughing.

"How does it feel? The revenge? Does it feel good? My mum asked but I shook my head".

I didn't reject him for revenge, I rejected him because I don't want to be his mate.

Both my parents sighed and their looks turned from amused to somber.

Rachel we didn't want to say these in front of the alpha, because we want you to know that we are on your side. My mother starts but looks at my dad for help. My eyes flit between the two of them as unease builds inside me.

Alpha is right, sweetheart. As much as I hate to admit these, once Gabriel becomes your mate. Your first responsibility is to devote yourself to the pack.if your mate had been someone else other than the future alpha of this pack. I would have said wholeheartedly that you have every right to reject a man who treats you like trash and has no respect . But that isn't an option in a case like these, in fact regardless of what the current situation is , I am very proud of the fact that you stood up to him. For believing in your worth and yourself, you are very smart and intelligent. I just wished that you don't have to take back what you said. He said sadly and I shook my head.

" That's quite unfair," I said ,as tears were springing down my face.

We know it is not fair Rachel, we know it is not. My mum said as tears were brimming in her eyes. She rounded the counter to pull me in for a warm hug, and I couldn't stop my tears any longer.

You know he's put me into so much hurt and humiliation over the years and you expect me to forgive him just like that? To hope that the mate bond is the only thing that stops him from treating me like trash? All for the pack members who treat me like a leper all because of the rumors he kept spreading about me? Just listen to yourselves, doesn't my happiness mean a thing to you?" I shouted and pushed my mother away from me, running up the stairs that leads to my room.

When I got into my room u locked the door behind me, and took a deep breath to calm myself down, I could still smell Gabriel scent on me. Which got me even more angry. I ripped my clothes from my body and threw them into the hallway to get them to stay away from me, not caring if it made them angry, before climbing into the shower to scrub myself clean from his scent. I allowed myself to break down in tears, sobbing again with the water spray, lowering myself to the ground.

It was already hard enough that I rejected my mate and also had to accept I would never have that bond again. But it was fair for me to accept a man who has always been treating me like trash for as long as my other half. That sounds worst, I could never trust to be safe with him nor love him with my whole heart. Any feeling I have would be because of the mate bond. Will that be a better way to leave?

I stepped out of the shower only to hear the sound of someone pounding on my door, which is something my parents would never do. They must be really angry with me, so I wrapped a towel around me before heading to open the door.

"What?! I yelled and was surprised to see Gabriel's distraught face. His eyes traveled over my body, not hungrily but more like looking for injuries, before making eye contact with me.

" Are you okay? You felt distressed over the bond" He says confused as his eyes catch my red puffy ones.

I'm fine you can go. I say attempting to close the door. He pushes it open further and takes a step towards me.

" You are not fine" your face is all red and puffy, you have been crying. He says his voice is breaking. " Please don't cry sweetheart. He says practically like a whisper as he tries to wrap his arms around me. I pushed him away From me and took a step backward, tightening my towel around me and starting to shiver as a result of the cold water dripping off my hair.

" Stop, don't touch me" I told him firmly and his shoulder slumped.

Just let me comfort you. He pleaded, reaching his hand out to me but I rejected it.

"I already told you that I don't feel the bond. Your touch doesn't comfort me. I yelled at him loudly and he rolled his eyes.

I did mean the bond. Rachel I meant me, just me . Just let me hold you. He begs but I shake my head in disagreement.

" Why? Because you don't have your clothes on? Here. He says removing his shirt and handing it to me.

" No, I say. I just took a shower to get your scent . Why can't you just leave me alone? Just give me enough time and space to think, I can't help but yell at him, starting to get hysterical. His eyes widened in concern as he looked out of my bedroom door. My mother comes in the next seconds while he walks out of my room.

" Come on sweetheart" let's get you dressed. She says gently pulling a shirt over my head and handing me some pajama pants before leading me into the bathroom and drying my hair, at least it gets to stop dripping before braiding it for me like she did when I was still a child.

" Why did you let him in? I asked bitterly and she sighs.

He was upset, Rachel, we knew you were also angry. We were hoping he could help you calm down, I realize we are wrong. "I'm sorry" she says earnestly and I nod.